For Those About to Rock! Choosing a Rocker, Glider or Recliner

Today’s rockers aren’t your grandmother’s rockers. They’re sleek, modern and can work as easily in nurseries as they can in living rooms. And gliders, once large, clunky eye sores, are now high style contemporary nursery-musts, available in tweed, micro suede and leather—some even go so far as to kick back and recline.

Choosing between a host of good options may make decision-making even harder of course. Tribeca Pregnancy and Parenting Education Director Erica Lyons confirms, “There’s no real difference for soothing a child,” when choosing between a glider and rocker. But for families with toddlers, she adds, gliders have an added benefit: “Gliders don’t rock on little hands—but as long as mom is aware of no little fingers under the rocking chair, either is fine.”

Ralph Montemurro, co-owner of Monte Design Group, a family owned Canadian company founded on the concept of locally manufactured chic chairs, gives his own take. “A glider is great because it is a quiet, stable option that looks great in any room—and the glider-recliner gives you that and the ability to put your feet up and lay back. A rocker, on the other hand, is a classic choice because of its timeless style and design, and, with no moving parts, can last generations.”

Montemurro says he and his wife Michelle started Monte Design after successfully identifying a void in the market, and notes, designing a better nursery chair wasn’t easy. In fact, they made 40-50 prototypes of the original Luca glider (named after their third child) before going to market. Since then, they’ve been manufacturing gliders and rockers in Canada, without seeing a trend in preference between gliding and rocking. It seems in the end, it comes down to personal preference and aesthetic taste.

So, what do you say? Are you going to rock or glide?

Whatever you choose, we salute you.

Some questions to ask after you’ve decided to rock or glide

Is it easy to clean? Is it comfortable? Does it fit in with my decor? Is it easy to get out of (not too low)? Where is it made? How is it made?